Mary Purves

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonged to him, the other to the
lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him. he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.

'Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of
footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.'

The Lord replied,
'My precious, precious child. I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.'